Ex-MEC driver failed tests

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Lucas Buck

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Johannesburg - The driver of disgraced politician Humphrey Mmemezi, who knocked down a teenager and left him brain-damaged while allegedly driving the former MEC to a meeting, failed his advanced driving VIP protection course twice – before, and again after, the accident.

This emerged in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday during the trial of Joseph Semitjie, who stands accused of reckless and negligent driving.

Semitjie failed the test for the first time in July 2011.

A few months later, on November 5, he got behind the wheel to rush Mmemezi – who was running late – to a morning meeting. Matric pupil Thomas Ferreira’s motorcycle collided with his BMW X5 at a traffic light.

At the time of the accident, Mmemezi denied he was in the car. His then spokesman, Victor Moreriane, said police had confirmed that Mmemezi was not in the BMW at the time of the accident.

But a day after this denial on November 8, the Gauteng provincial government admitted that Mmemezi had left the scene immediately after the accident.

The court heard on Wednesday that a few weeks after the crash, Semitjie went to a remedial course before retaking the advanced driving test, which he failed once again.
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link
 
*mutter*...

I can't write what I really want to here, it will get me banned.
 
theone said:
Johannesburg - The driver of disgraced politician Humphrey Mmemezi, who knocked down a teenager and left him brain-damaged while allegedly driving the former MEC to a meeting, failed his advanced driving VIP protection course twice – before, and again after, the accident.

This emerged in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday during the trial of Joseph Semitjie, who stands accused of reckless and negligent driving.

Semitjie failed the test for the first time in July 2011.

A few months later, on November 5, he got behind the wheel to rush Mmemezi – who was running late – to a morning meeting. Matric pupil Thomas Ferreira’s motorcycle collided with his BMW X5 at a traffic light.

At the time of the accident, Mmemezi denied he was in the car. His then spokesman, Victor Moreriane, said police had confirmed that Mmemezi was not in the BMW at the time of the accident.

But a day after this denial on November 8, the Gauteng provincial government admitted that Mmemezi had left the scene immediately after the accident.

The court heard on Wednesday that a few weeks after the crash, Semitjie went to a remedial course before retaking the advanced driving test, which he failed once again.
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This is nothing new. This happens in all government departments, semi-state institutions, universities and virtually all companies closely associated with government.

I know for a fact that universities are passing students who failed subjects by as much as 10% just in order to get the 'numbers' right. I have personally seen academic records of students who failed 4 years in university - all but 1 or 2 subjects, but they received their degrees - these are doctors and engineers.

I know for a fact that there is a large number of police officers not qualified to handle a firearm or drive police vehicles, yet the police's own driving school in Benoni issued them drivers' licenses even though they can't even pass their tests. They are handed firearms just to get them out on the streets to start working and ensure the numbers are right.

Now, to the point I want to make and back to an old topic - the SAA. They are so focused on Affirmative Action that they do not care about the quality of cadets. Millions and millions of Rands are being spend on their training. Many of them who do not pass their exams and practicals will be made pilots. They will be flying hundreds of people on a plane around the country, even a few hundred abroad.

This is a small indication of what is still to come.
 
Just a bit of a heads up on the SAA thing..

If the IAA finds that we are endorsing pilots who failed their courses, then SAA will be barred from flying to any international destination...
 
ToxicBunny said:
Just a bit of a heads up on the SAA thing..

If the IAA finds that we are endorsing pilots who failed their courses, then SAA will be barred from flying to any international destination...
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We need whistleblowers.

There is a good reason to have standards.
 
House said:
This is nothing new. This happens in all government departments, semi-state institutions, universities and virtually all companies closely associated with government.

I know for a fact that universities are passing students who failed subjects by as much as 10% just in order to get the 'numbers' right. I have personally seen academic records of students who failed 4 years in university - all but 1 or 2 subjects, but they received their degrees - these are doctors and engineers.

I know for a fact that there is a large number of police officers not qualified to handle a firearm or drive police vehicles, yet the police's own driving school in Benoni issued them drivers' licenses even though they can't even pass their tests. They are handed firearms just to get them out on the streets to start working and ensure the numbers are right.

Now, to the point I want to make and back to an old topic - the SAA. They are so focused on Affirmative Action that they do not care about the quality of cadets. Millions and millions of Rands are being spend on their training. Many of them who do not pass their exams and practicals will be made pilots. They will be flying hundreds of people on a plane around the country, even a few hundred abroad.

This is a small indication of what is still to come.
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Until you have some proof to back up these statements it would be wise not to mention them as fact.
 
theone said:
Until you have some proof to back up these statements it would be wise not to mention them as fact.
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Don't need to provide proof, whatsoever. These things happen. The majority of my examples I have experienced first hand. If you want proof, take a day or two, make use of the Internet and Google and you will find many references to these kind of things happening.
 
Scary thing is these kinda people are the best the ANC's got?
 
House said:
Don't need to provide proof, whatsoever. These things happen. The majority of my examples I have experienced first hand. If you want proof, take a day or two, make use of the Internet and Google and you will find many references to these kind of things happening.
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I know that institutions of higher education can't and don't hand out degrees this way.
House said:
... I have personally seen academic records of students who failed 4 years in university - all but 1 or 2 subjects, but they received their degrees - these are doctors and engineers.
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The only way that this could be happening if the degrees are forged. I would have to go on more than your word to accept your statement as fact. If it is happening I would think that it's more of a case of a few corrupt individuals in the system rather than something that is institutionalised.
 
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Yup when I was at wits u either passed or failed , there was no curve or allowance or number rigging. Uni's live and die by the quality of their graduates so I highly doubt they fudge things to the degree u imply
 
The Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court has heard that former Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi's driver, who knocked down a teenager in November 2011, twice failed a VIP advanced driving course, The Star reported on Thursday.

Advanced driving training centre commander Captain Johannes Stassen reportedly said in court on Wednesday that the driver, Joseph Semitjie, had failed the test both before and after hitting teenager Thomas Ferreira, who sustained a brain injury.

Semitjie faced charges of reckless or negligent driving.

According to The Star, Stassen, who has served as a driver for three former presidents, testified that when a driver failed the course, the centre recommended that he not be assigned high-profile VIP driving duties.

He said he had limited authority over the assignment of drivers.

The newspaper reported that Moses Rankoa, for Semitjie, told the court his commander would not have assigned him to drive Mmemezi if it was known that passing the test was a requirement, or that Semitjie was not competent.

On November 5, 2011, Semitjie was driving Mmemezi to a meeting, for which he was apparently late, when their vehicle was in an accident with Ferreira's motorbike at a traffic light.

The matter continues on August 29.


Source : Sapa /mjs/aa/clh
Date : 27 Jun 2013 07:17
 
theone said:
I know that institutions of higher education can't and don't hand out degrees this way.


The only way that this could be happening if the degrees are forged. I would have to go on more than your word to accept your statement as fact. If it is happening I would think that it's more of a case of a few corrupt individuals in the system rather than something that is institutionalised.
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No my friend, you are highly mistaken.

I know of markers who are forced to mark examination papers in a certain manner. I know of two who quit because of this. I know of people working in 2 universities who complained and laughed about this practice for some time now. Students are put through in order to get the numbers right.
 
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